ST. LOUIS — St. Louis Cardinals backup catcher Jason LaRue watched from the dugout as Yadier Molina, his back to the play after an off-line throw, got flattened by a pinch runner.

Like several teammates, LaRue was impressed that Molina apparently avoided serious injury after being taken off the field on a body board with a brace around his neck, and that Molina held on to the ball for an important ninth-inning out in yesterday's 7-6, 10-inning victory over the Philadelphia Phillies.

"You don't see the runner. You don't know when you're going to get hit," LaRue said.

Molina was taken to a hospital for evaluation of neck and back pain and sustained a mild concussion, although he did not lose consciousness after the collision with Phillies pinch runner Eric Bruntlett, team spokesman Brian Bartow said. All test results were negative, the team said in a release, although Molina was to be held overnight as a precaution.

"How he held on to the ball," Cardinals reliever Ryan Franklin said, "I don't know."

Several teammates were told Molina was suffering from whiplash-like symptoms. Players were hopeful that the 25-year-old Molina would only be out a few days.

ELSEWHERE

Brewers: Reliever Eric Gagne threw about 25 pitches off the mound yesterday as he continues to recover from right rotator cuff tendinitis. Gagne declined to speak after the session.

Red Sox: Manny Ramirez was out of Boston's lineup for a second straight game yesterday with soreness in a right hamstring that has bothered him the last few weeks.

Rockies: Colorado recalled catcher Edwin Bellorin from Triple-A Colorado Springs with Yorvit Torrealba serving the first of a two-game suspension for fighting yesterday. To make room on the roster, the Rockies optioned infielder Jonathan Herrera to the Triple-A club.

Rangers: Texas infielder Hank Blalock will start a rehabilitation assignment at Triple-A Oklahoma tomorrow as he returns from carpal tunnel syndrome surgery on his right wrist.